Improvement in machines for punching horseshoe nail-blanks from plate metal



. 2 Sheet's--Sheeft L .1H 2 nu 4| N 8 8 6, U 2 .en :nu S m e a rS.. M d0 E t H n EMM .mMP h. CM ut L a API! H rDI O .fm L 0 S .en Gn S .k n naDD Jmprov-emet in vM'achi G, L, HALL, zshetsnsheem.. 4Improv'eement inMachines fo r Pu'nching HorseshoeNail y Blanks from Plate Metal- No.125,045, Patented lV|` arch26,1872l UNITED STATES! GEORGE L. HALL, OFBOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR -TO GLOBE NAIL Prion.

COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR RUNCHING HORSESHOE NAIL-BLANKS FROM PLATEMETAL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 125,045, dated March26, 1872.

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. HALL, of Boston, in the county of Suii'olkand State of Massachusetts, have invented Improvements in the Mode ofPunching Blanks for Nails and other articles from Plates of RolledMeta-l 5 and I do hereby declare that the following, taken in connectionwith the drawing which accompanies and forms part of this specification,is a description of my invention sufficient to enable those skilled inthe art to practice it.

This invention will be described with special reference to itsadaptation to punchiu g blanks, from which horseshoe-nails are to beproduced, from long strips of suitable metal, in such manner thatsubstantially the onlyT waste of material is made at the edges of thestrips; but it will be understood that said invention is equallyapplicable to the production by punching of other articles besides nailsor nail-blanks, when such articles are so shaped that the sides ot' theadjacent articles coincide in the material from which they are punched.The invention embraces a process which consists in the relaftion of themovement of the material to be punched with reference tothe location ofthe punches; also, mechanism employed in the process.

On Sheet lis exhibited, in side and rear and front elevations, apunching-machine in common use, so l'ar as the parts are concerned, bywhich the punches are moved toward and from the dies or bed, butshowing, added thereunto, mechanismbywhich I present themetal to theaction of the punches, in accordance with my process. l

Figure l is said side elevation; Fig. 2 is the rear elevation; and Fig.3 is thefrontelevation 5 while Fig. 4 is a partial plan, showing the dieor bed and the moving clamp-carria ge for holding the metal.

On the main shaft of the machine, by which the punch-plun ger is worked,is a cam, a', which, in connection with the spring b, reciprocates slidec, as the shaft is rotated, the slide having at its end a pivot-jointedspring-pawl, d, which gives intermittent rotary motion to the ratchet eiitted 011 stud f secured to the frame of the machine. The ratchet e hasfixed to it and intermittently rotates the cam g, the operative edges ofwhich act against aroll or pin fixed to the connecting-rodi, one end ofwhich is jointed to the slide z', the other end of the rod being slottedand guided on the projecting end of stud f. The spring j operates tokeep the roll or pin in the connecting-rod la always against .theoperative edge-faces of cam g. Ways k are .attached to the frame ot' themachine, suited to guide. the slide c', and the upper part ot' the slideis provided with a cam which can be turned to force a platedown upon theiron introduced into the machine to be cut np by the punches. The slidez' has a latch, l, pivoted to it, which latch catches over the end ofways 7c and holds the slide at the position given by the extreme actionof cam g until such time as the operator raises the catch, when spring jdraws the slide ba ck to its opposite extreme position. The teeth of theratchet c are equally spaced at iirst, and then the tooth on which thevpawl operates, to give that motion to the cam by which the last advancemovement of the carriage i is made is slightly shortened, and, ofcourse, the next tooth to be acted upon by the pawl becomes longer, sothat the pawl, having equal motions at each rotation of the shaft, andwhen acting on the short toothvhaving some lost motion, will fail on thenext rota-tion to catch upon the point of the long tooth, the carriagec' being held from retraction by the latch l. The face m of cam g is soshaped that the roll or pin in connectin g-rod h acts, when retracted byspring j, to turn the cam, and consequently theratchet, to such anextent as to cause the pawlto take on the end ot' the long tooth, andthen the feeding movements of carriage z'- proceed automatically. Butwhile the carriage t' remains latched forward the pawl moves over theback of the long tooth in the ratchet without giving motion to the cam.At the inner edge of the slide is a groove, to receive one of thecrossribs made on the metal to provide for the nailheads, saidgroovethus serving as a guide in securing the metal properly in placefor presentation to the punches.

The two punches ,are placed with their lon,

gitudinal centers parallel to each other, with the head andpoint-forming parts oppositely arranged, the longitudinal centers hein gapart a distance equal to twice and one half the width ofthe nail-heads,the dies corresponding. to the location ofthe punches. The iron is sointro.-

duced that the punch, working with the dieliole y in its first descent,cuts one nail or blank with its longitudinal center upon the strip adistance equal to half the width of the nail or blank-head, the punchoperative with the diehole z not acting on the metal. When the punchesrise the cam g moves the slide and the strip clamped therein a distanceequal to the distance apart of' the centers of two blanks havingadjacent heads, and then the second complete nail or blank is punchedout by die y in the descent of the punch-plan ger, and the punchoperative with die z removes from the edge of the strip a half-blank orwaste-piece. When the punches rise the slide moves back the distance,apart of' the centers of' adjacent nail or blank-heads, and the'punchover die y forms blank or nail 3, and then the operation continuesacross the width ofthe strip by forward movements of the metal equal tothe distances apart of the centers of three adjacent nail-heads,alternated with backward movements equal to the distance apart of thecenters of adjacent nail-heads. By reference to diagram, Fig. 5, thisdescribed process or order of operation is illustrated. The numbers 1,2,3, 85e., represent the nails or blanks cutout at the leading die y,and the nulnbers 2', 3', 4', &c., represent those cut at the.following-die z.

In the described process, lis first punched 5 then the strip is fedforward two spaces, or a distance equal to the width of two nail-heads,and 2 and the half-blank 2' are punched; then the strip is back-fed onespace and 3 is punched;

then the strip is fed three spaces and 4 and 4' are punched. 5 and 5'are punched after the next back-feed of one space, and 6 and 6' after aforward feed of three spaces, and so on across the strip, until thepunch working in the following-die z finishes byremoval of a wastepiecein the form of a half-nail or blank, and during the time while the punchis working in the following-die z, punching the last three pieces whichit severs from the strip, the punch working in the leading-die y movesthrough space not occupied by the metal strip, and consequently does notproduce nails or blanks.

It will be' observed that the leading-punch makes its cut on the seriesof nails or blanks denoted by 1, 3, 2, 5, &c., from the point of each ofsaid nails or blanks along the entire length ofthe shank on both sides,and cuts the top end of' each head, and sometimes both sides ofthe head.while the'f'ollowin g-punch cuts only the top end of' each nail or blankof' the series denoted by 2', 5', 4', 7', &c., and'sometimes the twoparallel sides of' the head, so that the 'severing of the heads ofl allofthe nails orblanksalon g theline ofthe top ends of the heads isperformed by the following-punch. While the followingpunch does all ofthe severing of the blanks f'rom the strip of iron at the top lendsofthe blanks, (except when punching the first series of blanks f'rom anew strip of iron not squared on the end, in which case the leadingpunch severs from the strip the heads of the first entire series 1, 3,2,5, &c.,) the leading-punch in its operation along the line of junctionof' adjacent heads of two sets or series removes from the metal chipsyWhich are in section isosceles triangles.

lt will be seen that the followingpunch and its die z are not broughttothe shape of' the shank ofthe nail or blank to be produced, for thereasons, first, that the shanks of the nails or blanks are not cut bysaid punch and die, and second, to give room' f'or a slightside-Yswerving or springing of the material.

In illustration of the second reason, 'suppose blanks l, 2, and 3 tohave been punched by the leading-punch, and the half' blank 2' by thefollowing-punch, it will be seen that in the punching operation theshanks left to f'orm blanks 4' and 5', may have been swerved slightlysidewise, and if the shank parts of the following punch and die shouldvbe made of the exact width of' the shanks that are so swerved, thefollowing-punch would shave one side of the severed shank. But as theshank parts ofl the following-die areI made wider f'rom the point towardthe head than the shank of the swerved blank, provision is made to avoidsuch secondary and harmful cutting of the metal.

For reasons well known to every practical shoer of animals, it isdesirable to have most prominent that portion of the head which is inline with the nail-point, and, as in many horseshoe-nails, a point orend edge is now made at one side or surface of such nailshanks, it isdesirable to have the corner formed by said side or surface of each nailand the top ot' the head, the most proininent part of' the head, so asto receive and transmit hammer blows directly in line with thenailpoint. I produce this desired formation of' the nail-head by givingto the punches a peculiar form or arrangement, which consists in somaking each punch that it will strike upon that part ofthe metal whichis to form the nailpoint in advance, and will bend or deflect the metalof the nail or nail-blank before the cut takes place that makes the topsurface of the nail-head.

On Sheet 2 will be seen besides the diagram Fig. 5, already alluded to,Fig. 6, which is a side or edge view of the ribbed strip or bar ofmeta-l, from which nails or nail-blanks are punched, and it should beobserved that, by preference, such bars or strips of metal are placedfor the punching operation with the ribbed surface in contact with thedie-bed, the punches cominginto contact with the plain surface of thestrips. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 are, respectively, a plan, an end view, andaside view of the die-bed, the die hole z, seen in the plan, heilig thatwith which works a punch of corresponding form, and which I have hereintermed the following die and punch; andthe die-hole y being that withwhich works the leading-punch of f'orm corresponding to said die-hole.Fig. 10 shows the leadingpunch in side elevation and in plan, and Fig.ll shows similar views of the following-punch.

Y,law-15 "Inlliigsl` l0 and 11, it will be seen thatwhat may be' termedthe points of the punches are advanced beyond the'heads, so as tooperate sooner on themetal forming the points of the nails than they doon the metal forming the heads. Y

By this construction and arrangement of the parts, two objects areattained-inst, thelabor orl strain of the cutting operation. is notperformed all at same instant, but begins at the point and followstoward and terminates at the head, thus easing the severity of thestress on the punches and dies. Second, the bending of the nail metal atthe point, causes the dies and punches to cut the nail-head tops at anangle less than a right angle with the surface against which the punchescome into contact, thus giving prominence to the :nail-heads in linewith their points.

Diagram, Fig. 12, illustrates this arrangement and method ot operationof the punches, the amount of bevel or angle given to the operativefaces of the punches being exaggerated beyond the amount given inpractice, in order to show the operation clearly. Along the line wherethe heads ofthe nails or blanks are severed will be formed awaste-piece, triangular in cross-section, and of length equal to thewith of the strip upon which the punching is performed.

ln Fig. 6 the dotted lines there shown indicate the triangularwaste-pieces made across the metal bar consequent upon the describedbeveling of the operative faces of the punches.

It will now be obvious that the leading' feature of my invention is animprovement in the art of punching, which consists in giving to thematerial to be punched certain specific advance and retrograde movementsin connection with leading and following punches and dies, set atcertain distances from each other, which movements may be produced byvarious mechanical devices.

Of such devices I have exhibited the best, simplest, and most effectiveknown to me, and in said devices and their combinations other parts ofmy invention consist, though the said improvement in the art may becarried into effect by different means for producing the forward andretrograde movement of the material to be punched with reference to thepunches and dies, located as set forth. And still another part of myinvention consists in an improvement in thc artof punching by means ofwhich the head-end of each'nail or nail-blank is cut at an angle lessthan a right angle with the straight surface thereof. l I

'.lhis part of my invention maybe more specifically stated, asconsisting in the combination with die-holes ot' two punches made withoperative faces beveled or inclined, as described, so that the advancedpoints of the dies will bend thepunchings, and will cause the punchesand dies toA cut the heads ofthe nails or nail-blanks at angles of lessthan ninety degrees with the surfaces against which the punches operate.i

I .have` specified that the distances of the centers of the punches anddies apart must be equal to the distance of twice and one-half thedistance apart of adjacent nail-heads. This distance, however, may beincreased by the addition thereunto of one or more units, consideringthe width'of a nail-head as a unit but the distance cannot be decreased,nor can the system described of forward and retrograde feeding of thematerial to be punched be changed. The object-ion to placing the punchesfurther apart than the width of two and onehalf nailheads, is that inbeginning and end: ing the punt-,hin g on the edges of the strip, one ofthe punches will be longer inoperative than is necessary.

By inspection of diagram, Fig. 5, it will be seen that where a punchoperates it works with a balanced cut-that is, itcuts always on equalopposite sides, and never on one side, as in shearing. 1t is thisbalanced operation of the punches that keeps the blank or nails fromtwisting' as they are severed from the metal, and said balancedoperation is attained bythe described forward and back movements givento the stock relativelyr to punches and dies arranged with reference toeach other, as described.

1n cutting the metalhars or strips into nails or nail-blanks thereremains in the holder, shown in the drawing' before referred to, endpieces, which, if not further reduced by the punches into nail-blanks ornails, add considerably to the percentage of scrap-metal to be rewroughtinto other nail-bars. To reduce a very large portion of such ends intonail-blanks, I provide one of a set of punching-machines like the onedescribed, with a carriage like that seen in cross-section at- A,Sheet 1. In this carriage the clampin gpartis located nearer to thedie-bed than :is the case wit-h the carriage seen in theother figures,and the movable platen is operated b v a screw instead of by a cam. Partof the bed of this carriage under y the platen is located on a levelwith the highest part of the die-bed, andis rounded like the die-bed tot the ribbed formation of the bars or strips from which the nails ornail-blanks are punched, so that between the die-bed edge and theadjacent edge of the stock-clamp there is formed a groove or channelwhich receives one of the projections or ribs on the. stock.

With either form of carriage the stock is released, pushed forward underthe punches the distance between two adjacent ribs on the stock, andreclam ped as often as the the punches complete their cutting' actionacross the entire width of the bar. l

In practical use the carriageshown at A is not found so convenient forholding :and releasing the Vlong bars as is the carriage shown in theother figures 5 but itis especially adapted for use with the ends of thebars, as before described.

I claiml. As an improvement in the method of cutting out nails ornail-blanks from rolled plates,

the use, With die-holes, of two punches with operative faces inclined inopposite directions, each from one extremity to the other, to give ashear cut and to produce beveled heads, and operated intermittingly andalternatelyone to form the Whole of the Shanks, and also to bevel theheads of the series of nails or blanks made from one margin of theplate, and the other to separate and bevel the heads of the oppositeSeries, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of leading and following punches and dies, arrangedin relation to one another, substantially as described, and mechanisinto automatically present to them the metal to be operated on in themanner substantially aS set forth.

3. In combination with the punches'and dies,

constructed and arranged as Set forth, the slide or feed-carriage t',the latch l, or its equivalent, and mechanism to reciprocate saidcarriage in the manner substantially as described.

4. The .combination of the ratchet-wheel e and cam g, When constructedas described, with Y a vibrating pawl and a feed-carriage, as Set forth.

5. The punches y and z and their respective die-holes made in theirpoint and shank, forming parts as described, and arranged relativetivelyto each other, as Set forth.

GEO. L. HALL.

Witnesses:

J. B. CROSBY, FRANCIS GoULn.

